Clutch Pedal fade/ 360

Kink,

I believe there are couple of people here with the same issue here on this board. Ray John was one of them, but he already sold his car. I also have the same issue (my car is a manual tranny 02 spider) and it seems to be related to two things. Heat and RPM. I can only get my car to replicate this randomly at 6000+ RPM and only after the car is hot.

I bled the clutch fluids twice, but still occasionally experience the same problem. Basically when this happens it is during shifting the pedal goes down to the floor very soft like the clutch is not even there, if you tried to change gears you will grind the gears because the clutch plate is not release from the pressure plate. But if you leave it in gear and pump the pedal again, it will work.

Here are some several possible cause and solution.

(1). Worn clutch, there is a big discussion on this as the shop manual shows that there is a curve to the flywheel, theory is that the higher rpm the clutch disc would grab better. So maybe that's why it is related to high RPMs? The clutch disc is grabbing on to the flywheel too strongly? Been told replacing all the clutch components fixes this problem.

(2). Air in the hydraulic system - flush and bleed the fluid

(3). Heat causes the clutch fluids to boil and air bubble is formed in the line - The hydraulic line that goes to the thrust bearing is directly under the exhaust manifold, which gets super hot. That's explains why I only see this issue after running the car for some time and under a hot condition. Solution? Bleed the fluids more often, or wrap some sort of exhaust wrap around the clutch hydraulic lines.

So far this is what I have gathered on this issue.

 

Had similar problem. More obvious at track days when pushing car harder.
Was thrust bearing causing the problem.
But seeing as the box had to come out.....also new clutch, new ring gear (6 bolt). new pressure plate..etc, etc.

 

I had EXACTLY the same problem. You can search for my posts (you may have to search the archives of the old FerrariChat). The issue was a small plastic piece in the thrust bearing (IIRC). Mine was corrected under warranty, and a Ferrari dealer should have the information on the needed service. When I had mine done, my clutch and everything else was fine.

Scott

 

Here is a picture of the thrust bearing on the thrust bearing flange/spine that the clutch rides on. It moves by hydraulic pressure and pushes against the pressure plate to release the clutch from the flywheel, the other pictures shows the 6 plastic seals inside. This must be the plastic the dealer is referring to. But I haven't found any leaks from the seal of my thrust bearing.
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